This particular Monday is dark and stormy. Riley woke me at 6 am with his barking and thank goodness for it. I managed to get him outside before he peed. A little victory, but a victory nonetheless. Picture me: bleary-eyed, hair a mess, coffee-less, trying to lift Riley and head him on out the door.
You can stop laughing now.
Anyway, lots of thunder, lightning and all-around stormy pleasure. I love sitting in my cozy living room, the crack of thunder and flash of lightning all around me, Scoutie in the ‘tunnel’ and Riley on his bed, a nice mug of Peet’s French Roast in my hands. I hope it storms all day long. (Just as long as the dreaded roof doesn’t leak.) We need the rain and I love the atmosphere.
One of my very favorite things in this sweet cottage is this sign. My friend Lori, of Vignettes, had a post on her blog with several photos of shop displays and I spied this beauty in the background of one of the shots. Fast forward a few days and it found a home here at the cottage.
Oh my goodness, how I love it. Sitting here in the living room, at my laptop, I can gaze upon it all day long. The piano was my grandmother’s, then my mother’s and now it’s mine. I took piano lessons starting at the age of 8 and they continued into my high school years. At that point, drama and the theater had become my passions. After a few too many practice sessions that consisted of me playing only my favorite pieces and neglecting anything new, a decision was made by my mom and me to cease and desist piano lessons. I sort of wish I had continued. But hindsight is always 20/20.
Learning to play the piano taught me to sight-read, sharpen my musical ear, learn all about tempo and key signatures and major and minor and scales and staccato and all sorts of wonderful things that served me well when I sang onstage in musicals, in choirs and, later, professionally. I’m so grateful for all of those lessons and my mother’s relentless reminders that it was time for my daily practice session.
I was a bit jealous of my friends who played in the school band and orchestra. They got to carry instruments in cases. I thought that was the neatest thing.
You can’t carry a piano in a case. We didn’t have electronic keyboards in those days.
Here’s my question on this rainy Monday morning: Do you play an instrument? What instrument do you play? I love learning things about all of you; goodness knows you know a lot about me. Tell me all about your musical background.
Happy Monday.
Claudia, does it count if I haven’t played for a few years? If it does, I play at the flute, piano and guitar. This question makes me want to buy a new guitar!
Good morning, Claudia. I had a visual of you in that first paragraph…I think my neighbors might have similar visions of me- feeding the birds!
I play the piano a bit. I lived in a very rural area so never had the opportunity to take lessons..but wish I could have.
My hubby’s grandmother Clara was a concert pianist and traveled all over playing until she married. When she passed her piano came to live with us and now is in my dd’s home. She plays and her girls play. One of them takes violin and she is pretty good.
My youngest son plays guitar and piano. He composes and plays beautifully. My middle daughter plays guitar and composes, too. Her voice is her instrument and she got a full voice scholarship. We are surrounded by music and I love it- xo Diana
Claudia, My g.daughter Emma is taking piano lessons. We went to eat lunch at Cracker Barrel yesterday. They have that big old fashioned general store as you enter the restaurant and Emma goes to the toy corner, I hear piano music…she’s playing a roll up keyboard. Well how cute is that. Now you can take a keyboard in a case. :):)Smiles, xo, Susie
First off let me say I am SO thrilled that there is rain somewhere in this land of ours! It is dangerously dry here and ever so hot…and congrats on hitting the door in time with Riley! A victory is a victory!
I took piano lessons for several years (through high school as you did, and like you loved to play what I liked to play!) I played at church almost every Sunday..an elderly gentleman played the organ and i would play the piano. He literally pulled out all the stops so I could really “pound” it! Fun..
With all our moving i haven’t been able to keep a piano and am SO SO rusty! Not sure if I can read music even anymore!
oh…LOVE the picture! great find!
I took piano lessons from age 8 through 16, too, but I’m not definitely not a natural. There’s a few pieces I play once in a while, but mostly my kids use the piano. Even without lessons, my middle daughter can pick out songs by ear — complicated chords and all. Don’t know where she go that from!
Hola Claudia, yo no toco ningún instrumento, aunque si me ensañaron a tocar la flauta, el no practicar hizo que se me olvidara.
Lo que si me gusta es toda clase de música, y el piano es uno de mis géneros favoritos.
Podrías subir un video tocando el piano, así vemos como lo haces, me gustaría mucho escucharte.
También coincido contigo en que los días de tormenta lluviosos son preciosos, a mi me gustan mucho, y aquí en España ahora estamos pasando un calor horroroso y tenemos muchos incendios activos, una verdadera pena.
Bueno ahora ya conoces algo más de mi, te sigo aunque no siempre tenga tiempo de dejarte comentarios.
Un beso
I love the picture! And our piano experiences are similar. I took lessons from the time I was about 8 until I was probably 14 or 15, then decided that the clarinet would be more interesting (and I would be able to be part of a band), until I actually started clarinet lessons and decided the clarinet wasn’t for me. Unfortunately, no one had me listen to the oboe or bassoon. I would love to have learned one of those.
One thing I’m sad about is that I was never able to learn to play a musical instrument. I wanted a piano so badly as a child but my parents could’t afford one, or lessons either – things were really tight growing up after WWII in the UK, no luxuries of any kind! I have long fingers and have always been asked if I play the piano – perhaps if I stay home long enough I could give it a shot even this late in life, ha! ha!
Love your sign – recall how excited you were when you found it.
Happy week – hugs, Mary
I don’t play, but I so wanted to play the piano that I always dreamed of being a prodigy. Sitting down, and playing an amazing tune…by ear, without training. Alas I don’t have that talent, but then again at over 6 feet I am a little tall for a ballarina. And that was my other wish, lol.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Good morning Claudia. Hooray for the rain…and hooray for hustling pupper out before he wee wee’d.
I wanted to comment to you regarding your comment on my recent post. You don’t have to have a compost bin to compost. If you live in a sort of rural area especially! If you have some spot, out of the way, hopefully near the garden, you can start a compost heap. You might want to cover it with a tarp or something, but just keep turning it, and building it. You will have composted earth in no time.
I attended a composting seminar at my local library one day a few years back that was so informative. They were selling stackable bins for only 50 dollars, so I bought mine there.
Now about music. I have no musical ability whatsoever! NONE!! But my youngest son Drew, at the age of 14 bought himself a guitar and taught himself to play. He now plays EVERYTHING!!! Every instrument he touches, he plays. It is amazing. He teaches music and is an aspiring musician himself. I would love to play something, but nope, no can do!!!
XO Kris
Not only do I not play a musical instrument, I am genetically challenged by not being able to dance, sing or snap my fingers. What a disappointment because I love music and yearn to join in the camaraderie such events elicit. Great question.
I learnt to play guitar in high school but stopped playing after about a year, I think. However, I still claim to this day that I can play “House of the Rising Sun”. Jury’s out as to whether I actually can, but my fingers do remember a bass riff.
I can plonk notes out on a piano, but I can’t play. My husband’s the musician in this family.
However, I can sing. So my voice is my instrument and I’m learning to be open and comfortable singing in front of people. Oh and my chanting morning/evening prayer is helping me with intervals.
I do not play a musical instrument, but have a great appreciation for music. I was always into journalism in school, so writing was my creative outlet.
I love your new picture, and it looks lovely hanging above your pretty piano vignette.
I don’t play an instrument. I did take piano lessons for a short time but wasn’t really good at it. Both my girls play music and I’m so glad. hugs, Linda
I was so lucky–my parents encouraged my dream of playing the violin in 4th grade and thus started me on the path to music education and a professional career in music management. I have always been grateful for their love and encouragement in this endeavor. We couldn’t afford a piano until I was fifteen, but I was determined to learn to play it as quickly as possible and practiced my fingers off all through high school. I think my mother still shudders when she hears Fur Elise! I majored in music education, learning all of the stringed instruments, and then married a violist, and we were lucky enough to have four children who also love music, thus creating our own family quartet–three violins, a viola, a cello and a harp! My daughter’s first word…HARP! I’ve been lucky enough to play in civic orchestras in Kansas, TX, SD and WI. Nothing calms the soul like a Bach Invention after a long and stressful day. Music is the best therapy…
WAY “back in the day” someone came to the elementary school to determine if any student had musical ability or talent. My brother and I were deemed deficient in that area so my folks never bothered…. I always wished I had learned to read music or play anything..I did play autoharp in school briefly, and loved it.
So fast forward to my kids. Both were given lessons and instruments of their choice. Both were in band thru jr high and my son continued on and was drum major in HS and played four different instruments, eventually getting full ride to College on music ( well until he changed majors lol).
They both still listen to all forms of music and it is a major part of their day.
xx
z
I played the violin until high school..Had to quit..Hockey and Cheer leading practice interfered with Orchestra practice..I tinker on the piano..now I play the radio!!
I started piano at age 8 and found that it was my passion. I continued through college and ended up teaching music at an elementary school, and when I had babies I taught piano lessons at home. I’m lucky enough to still be doing that many years later. It also leaves time for crafting which is my other passion. Love that picture over your piano.
Looked in to see how Riley was doing. So, glad he’s hanging in there, as are you. I’d say more that a small victory that he was able to pee outside! I’ve been thinking of you both.
Really love your keyboard sign!
Hugs to you.
Love the sign. I need one to go over my piano!
I took piano lessons from age 8 through high school. Started playing for church at 15. Met my husband when he came to our church as music director. 36 1/2 years later he is leading the music again and I am playing piano for our church. I believe it was God’s plan for us!!
No. I don’t play an instrument…but I married a drummer!Does that count?
My son is also a drummer and guitar player.
My girls took piano…but didn’t stick with it.
Come to think of it, that same son can also play some piano. He mixes music and helps people with recording demos too. He is quite talented in the music area…but he didn’t get it from me!
My other son– couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. But … he is very handy with his hands otherwise. If it is gasoline powered..he can make it run–if it isn’t. He is handy with all sorts of tools…
there, now you know something about me and a bunch of somethings about my family! LOL…
Pat
I can play simple tune with gum leaf
Here’s hoping today is the day I finally figure out how to comment from this phone. I tookk guitar lessons when I was eight or nine. In jr high hi joined band and learned to play the coronet. I’ve often considered trying to find a coronet or trumpet in the pawn shop and trying to play again.
Have a Great day and enjoy the rain; if you get tired of it please send it on to us.
I never played an instrument — was in honor chorus in middle school and took drama in high school. My oldest son plays the drums (out of school — he likes to jam with his friends) — and my youngest the saxophone (only in school — for band concerts). I always wished I had learned to play the guitar. :) Wishing you a beautiful day! Tammy
I took piano lessons for years and years, but I was a very naughty girl and hated to practice. I also took violin lessons for a couple of years, and I sang in choirs throughout my school years. I can still play a few tunes on the piano, but very poorly. So I just play for myself and any little people who happen to be around and don’t mind if I make lots of dreadful sounding mistakes.
My husband has a really wonderful singing voice. My very own Pavarotti. :-) His twin sister also sings beautifully, and for years she sang for Mass. (so did his father and his grandmother.)
Our son played trumpet from 5th grade all the way through high school and we loved being Marching Band parents. Our daughter’s thing was Irish dancing. We wanted our children to choose which “art” they wanted to pursue.
At one point I suggested to my son that he learn to play the bagpipes. But that didn’t happen. (I do know lots of people who learned to play the pipes as adults, so it’s not too late, should he change his mind.)
I played the piano and the flute! I rarely play the flute anymore, so i gave my flute away a few years ago, and now I really regret it! Never get rid of musical instruments, that’s my new motto.
~Angela~
I did play the clarinet very briefly in the 5th grade and then the music instructor shifted me over to the bass clarinet which I hated. So I quit! Hubby at the age of 60 started taking piano lessons … never too late!